Foote, Julia A.J.A Brand Plucked From the Fire

CHAPTER XIX.

Public Effort--Excommunication

From
this time the opposition to my life work commenced, instigated by the
minister, Mr. Beman. Many in the church were anxious to have me preach in the hall, where our
meetings were held at that time, and were not a little astonished at the minister's cool treatment of
me. Strength two of the trustees got some of the elder sisters to call on the minister and ask him
to let me preach. His answer was: "No; she can't preach her holiness stuff here, and I am
astonished that you should ask it of me." The sisters said he seemed to be in quite a rage, although
he said he was, not angry.

There being no meeting of the society on Monday evening, a brother in the church

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opened his house to me, that I might preach, which displeased Mr. Beman very much. He
appointed a committee to wait upon the brother and sister who had opened their doors to me, to
tell them they must not allow any more meetings of that kind, and that they must abide by the
rules of the church, making them believe they would be excommunicated if they disobeyed him. I
happened to be present at this interview, and the committee remonstrated with me for the course I
had taken. I told them my business was with the Lord, and wherever I found a door opened
intended to go in and work for my Master.

There was another meeting appointed at the same place, which I, of course, attended; after
which the meetings were stopped for that time, though I held many more there after these people
had withdrawn from Mr. Beman's church.

I then held meetings in my own house; whereas the minister told the members that if they
attended them he would deal with them, for they were breaking the rules of the church. When he
found that I continued the meetings, and that the Lord was blessing my feeble efforts, he sent a
committee of two to ask me if I considered myself a member of his church. I told them I did, and
should

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continue to do so until I had done something worthy of dismembership.

At this, Mr. Began sent another committee with a note, asking me to meet him with the
committee, which I did. He asked me a number of questions, nearly all of which I have forgotten.
One, however, I do remember: he. asked if I was willing to comply with the rules of the discipline.
To this I answered: "Not if the discipline prohibits me from doing what God has bidden me to do;
I fear God more than man." Similar questions were asked and answered in the same manner. The
committee said what they wished to say, and then told me I could go home. When I reached the
door, I turned and said: "I now shake of the dust of my feet as a witness against you. See to it that
this meeting does not rise in judgment against you."

The next evening, one of the committee came to me and told me that I was no longer a
member of the church, because I had violated the rules of the discipline by preaching.

When this action became known, the people wondered how any one could be
excommunicated for trying to do good. I did not say much, and my friends simply said I had done
nothing but hold meetings. Others, anxious to know the particulars, asked the minister

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what the trouble divas. He told them he had given me the privilege of speaking or preaching as
long as I chose, but that he could not give me the right to use the pulpit, and that I was not
satisfied with any other place. Also, that I had appointed meeting on the evening of his meetings,
which was a thing no member had a right to do. For these reasons he said he had turned me out of
the church.

Now, if the people who repeated this to me told the trust--and I have no doubt but
they did--Mr. Beman told an actual falsehood. I had never asked for his pulpit, but had
told him and others, repeatedly, that I did not care where I stood--any corner of the hall
would do. To which Mr. Beman had answered:"You cannot have any place in the hall." Then I
said: "I'll preach in a private house." He answered me: "No, not in this place; I am stationed over
all Boston." He was determined I should not preach in the city of Boston. To cover up his
deceptive, unrighteous course toward me, he told the above falsehoods.

From his statements, many erroneous stories concerning me gained credence with a large
number of people. At that time, I thought it my duty as well as privilege to address a letter to the
Conference, which I took to them in

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person, stating all the facts. At the same time I told them it was not in the power of Mr. Beman,
or any one else, to truthfully bring anything against my moral or religious character--that
my only offence was in trying to preach the Gospel of Christ--and that I cherished no ill
feelings toward Mr. Beman or anyone else, but that I desired the Conference to give the case an
impartial hearing, and then give me a written statement expressive of their opinion., I also said I
considered myself a member of the Conference, and should do so until they said I was not, and
gave me their reasons, that I slight let the, world know what my offence had been.

My letter was slightingly noticed, and then thrown under the table. Why should they notice it?
It was only the grievance of a woman, and there was no justice meted out to women in those
days. Even ministers of Christ did not feel that women had any rights which they were bound to
respect.